Ideas change everything

Breaking up with perfectionism

1,548,845 plays|

WorkLife with Adam Grant |

WorkLife with Adam Grant

• May 2022

Perfectionism is on the rise -- and not just in job interviews when people claim it's their greatest weakness. But the desire to be flawless is not always productive or healthy. As a recovering perfectionist, organizational psychologist Adam Grant dives into how he managed to abandon the quest for 10s while holding onto his drive for excellence. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to the TED Audio Collective at youtube.com/tedaudiocollective.

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

Perfectionism is on the rise -- and not just in job interviews when people claim it's their greatest weakness. But the desire to be flawless is not always productive or healthy. As a recovering perfectionist, organizational psychologist Adam Grant dives into how he managed to abandon the quest for 10s while holding onto his drive for excellence. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to the TED Audio Collective at youtube.com/tedaudiocollective.

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

About the speaker

Organizational psychologist

See speaker profile

One of Adam Grant’s guiding principles is to argue like he's right and listen like he's wrong.